Business View Caribbean - Sept. / Oct. 2014

86 9LUJLQ ,VODQGV 6HSWHPEHU ‡ 2FWREHU ² &DULEEHDQ ‡ %XVLQHVV 9LHZ focus of Bermuda Hospitals Board is on the needs of patients, and services are strategically planned around the island’s healthcare requirements. Symonds said this drives staff to achieve the highest evidence- based standards in the delivery of services. It requires extensive collaboration with other healthcare partners in Bermuda to seek health system reforms to ensure quality and affordability. Strategic aims at BHB are underpinned through organizational values that include respect for all, integrity, serving the interests of patients, families and the community-at-large. “We aspire to be the best in all we do,” she said. The services delivered by Bermuda Hospitals Board and the professionals affiliated with the delivery of care save lives every day, and improvements in services constantly improve patient outcomes and patient satisfaction. Beyond the patients who depend on such services, healthcare also represents one of the most fundamental pillars of Bermuda’s public spending. BHB employs about 1,800 people and is the second largest employer in Bermuda, after the government. About 44 percent of healthcare costs relate to the hospital, as it is the only provider of acute care services. BHB has a long standing scholarship program to support future generations of healthcare workers. For young Bermudans striving toward a career in healthcare, BHB awards more than $100,000 each year in scholarship funding. It also supports a variety of community programs that promote greater awareness and understanding of health concerns in the market. BHB services are, therefore, not limited to what transpires in the lab, emergency room